Statement on the Congressional Shooting

"I want to make an appeal to the community at large, to have more civility and more respect for each other. We all can do a better job of showing respect and compassion for one another. Let's lay aside any harmful or negative rhetoric toward other people.

I'm going to keep protecting the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is what allows every person to defend themselves. In a case like this, policemen wearing bulletproof vests were right there on the scene, but that's the exception, that's not the rule. Americans should have the ability, if they so choose, to be able to have concealed-carry permits and take advantage of the Second Amendment to protect themselves in a possible horrific situation like this in the future."